Power supply apparatus and charge-discharge control method

Abstract

LICs are grouped into a plurality of LIC groups. Switches switch a power-feed path to allow charging and discharging to be performed for a combination of the LIC groups. A life diagnostic unit obtains the lives of the LICs. A charge-discharge priority controller sets a priority of each of the LIC groups based on the lives of the respective LICs. A charge-discharge managing unit selects one or more of the LIC groups for which charging and discharging are performed, based on the priority set by the charge-discharge priority controller and supplied power demanded during discharging, and controls the switches to allow charging and discharging to be performed for a combination of the selected one or more of the LIC groups.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power supply apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of power storage devices that are grouped into a plurality of sets;   a switching unit that switches a power-feed path to allow charging and discharging to be performed for a combination of the sets;   a life diagnostic unit that obtains lives of the power storage devices;   a priority setting unit that sets a priority of each of the sets based on the lives of the respective power storage devices; and   a charge-discharge managing unit that selects one or more of the sets for which charging and discharging are performed, based on the priority set by the priority setting unit and supplied power demanded during discharging, and that controls the switching unit to allow charging and discharging to be performed for a combination of selected one or more of the sets.   
     
     
         2 . The power supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the priority setting unit obtains a group life of each of the sets in accordance with the lives of the power storage devices, and   the charge-discharge managing unit determines the priority in such a manner that the priority is lower as the group life is shorter, and selects one or more of the sets for which charging and discharging are performed in descending order of the priority.   
     
     
         3 . The power supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the priority setting unit acquires the supplied power demanded during discharging from a device that is a discharge destination, and selects such number of the sets that charging and discharging are performed to achieve a charging capacitance equal to or larger than the acquired supplied power. 
     
     
         4 . The power supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the sets is formed by every group of the storage devices arranged in parallel, and the sets are connected in series. 
     
     
         5 . The power supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage devices are replaceable in each of the sets. 
     
     
         6 . A charge-discharge control method of a power supply apparatus including a plurality of power storage devices grouped into a plurality of sets and a switch that switches a power-feed path to allow charging and discharging to be performed for a combination of the sets, the method comprising:
 obtaining lives of the power storage devices;   setting a priority of each of the sets based on the lives of the power storage devices;   selecting one or more of the sets for which charging and discharging are performed, based on the set priority and supplied power demanded during discharging; and   controlling the switch to allow charging and discharging to be performed for a combination of the selected one or more of the sets.